Fate

24

Chapter 24

"You've never used a toaster before?" Aryan asked, holding several frozen waffles in his hands. Holden had told us the extent of the results, which we already knew, before heading back to the hospital to clean everything up. It was all so obvious after getting my wings but I wanted to hear it from him. A trained professional. He told me that most of my blood was angelic and that I was almost back to normal. That was some of the best news I'd heard in a long time.

I laughed and shook my head. "No. I've also never used a coffee pot, microwave, or stove."

"Maybe when things aren't so crazy I can teach you." He said.

"I'd really like that."

He handed me two waffles. "Stick them in the holes. Do not touch the toaster."

I raised my eyebrows but did as I was told, throwing the waffles to avoid burning myself.

"Push the lever down. When the waffles pop up, that means they're done. The setting on how brown you want them is already set. I typically leave it on the same setting each time."

I pushed down the lever and raised my hands up. It was so weird learning how to work a toaster. Most people grew up knowing how to use one. I only knew how the food tasted after the fact.

"See, you're a master at it already." Aryan patted my knee.

Lucy walked out with a sports bra and leggings on. Her hair was pulled back and ear buds were wrapped around her neck. She looked at Aryan and I and smiled. "Good to see you know how to put your clothes on now."

I sighed just as the toaster lifted the waffles. I jumped and almost fell off the counter.

"Where are you going?" Aryan asked, leaning against the counter beside me.

"There's a gym in the basement. It's not the same as back home but it'll do."

"Is Kellan going with you?" I asked hesitantly. I didn't want to push my luck.

But apparently there was no luck to even push. "No. He's staying here to be sure you two don't try anything."

I groaned and my head fell back. "I don't need a babysitter."

"Well this is his apartment so however you want to look at it..." She shrugged. "Tough luck. This may be new to me but I wasn't born yesterday." She blew a kiss at us both before she left the apartment.

I looked at Aryan. "What now?"

"We eat."

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Aryan and I were eating our waffles on the couch, watching a movie on TV. I'd seen it before but didn't want to spoil it for Aryan. We were trying to keep enough distance that Kellan wouldn't be suspicious but when he walked out, it was clear Lucy had filled him in.

His hair was wet and his dark clothes made his skin look paler than it was. When he caught sight of us, he smirked but went to the kitchen where his face was away from view.

I rolled my eyes and set my plate on the coffee table. My face felt like it was a thousand degrees. Why did they have to embarrass us so badly? It wasn't like they'd never had sex. I mean, they had me, for crying out loud!

Kellan fell into one of the chairs with a Gatorade in his hand and looked between the two of us. "Now I know why I had to wait for my shower this morning."

"This is more annoying than embarrassing, by the way."

"That's what I was going for."

"Did your parents ever do this to you?"

"No, and I'm glad they didn't. They haven't met Lucy."

"Why not?"

"We didn't even date each other. There was no point in telling them about her."

"Why?"

"Would you tell Lucy and I you had sex with someone once then never talked to them?"

My cheeks reddened.

"Exactly."

"Don't you want them to know?"

"We don't get along." His tone darkened and it told me he didn't want to talk about them. I guess I'd just have to ask Lucy about it then.

"I know what that's like."

"I'd rather go through that again than deal with my parents."

"Are they really that bad?"

"I went through a phase around the time I met Lucy. Or... I was still going through the phase. My parents were strict Catholics so my actions pissed them off. They told me they didn't want to have anything to do with me. Some other... words were said and that was that. I haven't talked to them since."

"Do you think they'd feel differently now?"

He got to his feet and walked into the kitchen. "It wouldn't matter if they did."

The door opened and Lucy walked in, covered in sweat. She had her ear buds in and she looked tired.

"Order some food. I'm starving." She said, glancing at Kellan. She went off to the bathroom and shut the door behind her.

Beside me, Aryan chuckled. "Typical Lucy."